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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Arthur Varco and Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Bunce were killed when their patrol car collided with a Tacoma Police Department patrol car occupied by Officer Paul Trent and Officer Martin Joyce The crash occurred at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Pacific Avenue. The deputies were responding to an accident while the officers were responding to an unrelated attempted suicide. Officer Joyce succumbed to his injuries two days later. The other three officers were killed instantly.
Survivors
Deputy Varco was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Varco served with the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Varco.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Pierce County Sheriff's Department has lost 11 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Arthur is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Arthur is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Arthur is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1941, 4 officers in WA were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 1941, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1941, 90 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Arthur was 45. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38.
Arthur was 45. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
Arthur was 45. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
November holds 15.3% of these deaths in WA, more than any other month. Sundays: 18.9%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 27.3% of all 11 deaths at Pierce County Sheriff's Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Pierce County Sheriff's Department has 11 officers remembered here, Arthur among them.
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Lawrence Bunce
Nov 23, 1941
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Arthur T. Varco
Nov 23, 1941
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Kenneth J. Moran
Oct 6, 1978
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John Bananola
Oct 16, 1995
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Walter Kent Mundell, Jr.
Dec 28, 2009
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Shandon Wright
Mar 3, 2011
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Kory Shaffer
May 12, 2017
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Daniel Alexander McCartney
Jan 8, 2018
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Cooper Andrew Dyson
Dec 21, 2019
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Daryl Wayne Shuey
Nov 10, 2020
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Dominique Calata
Mar 16, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Pierce County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
